Franz Schubertand his Merry Friends

by OPAL WHEELER and SYBIL DEUCHERIllustrated by MARY GREENWALT

Franz Schubert and His Merry FriendsWritten by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher

FRANZ SCHUBERT AND HIS MERRY FRIENDS written by Opal Wheeler Sybil Deucher and illustrated by Mary Greenwalt. Copyright © 1939 by E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc. Copyright renewed © 1967 by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher. Published by arrangement with Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written consent of Zeezok Publishing.

Reproduction for any use is strictly forbidden.

ISBN 978-1-933573-13-7Published January, 2008Printed in the United States of America

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Franz Schubertand his Merry Friends

MUSIC

Rondo ..................................................................................................................36Cradle Song ........................................................................................................40Waltz ....................................................................................................................43German Dance ..................................................................................................49Impromptu .........................................................................................................52Three Waltzes .....................................................................................................58German Dances .................................................................................................61Ecossaises ............................................................................................................66March Militaire .................................................................................................70Ballet from Rosamunde ...................................................................................76German Dance ..................................................................................................81Theme of Erlking ...............................................................................................86Hedge Roses .......................................................................................................88Moment Musicale ...........................................................................................102Hark! Hark! the Lark .....................................................................................110Theme from Impromptu ...............................................................................122

9

CHAPTER ONE

THE CHILL WIND swept down the chimney and rattled

the doors and windows of Schoolmaster Schubert’s house on

the street called “The Gate of Heaven,” just outside Vienna.

Over the doorway hung the sign, “The Red Crab,” that

creaked and swung on its rusty hinges.

It was cold and draughty on the second floor of the

old house, for Schoolmaster Schubert earned little money

teaching the boys in the Lichtenthal school and found it

difficult to buy enough fuel to keep his family warm.

10

Early on this bitter January day a little boy was born in the

Schubert home. His father carefully laid him in the low cradle

that he had made of rough pieces of pine wood and pulled it

close to the clay hearth, where his new son would be snug and

warm.

The very next day the new baby was carried to the parish

church nearby and christened Franz Peter Schubert.

The winter was long and hard but little Franzl grew rapidly

and before he could talk or even stand on his short chubby

legs, he sang sweetly and clearly.

11

Every evening he waited for his father’s footsteps to sound

on the outside stairs for then there would be music, after

Mother Schubert had given them their evening meal.

But Franzl cared little about his supper and would sing

loudly, beating time on the table with his spoon.

“Hush, little one,” said his mother. “It is not yet time for

music. You must be patient until your father is ready to play.”

His brothers, Ignaz and Ferdinand, watched with delight

as the little brother waved his arms in time to his singing.

“Listen to our Franzl, good wife — already he sings real

tunes,” said Schoolmaster Schubert. “Some day we may have a

singer in our household, Elizabeth.”

12

Father Schubert took his instrument from the tall

cupboard and soon the deep tones of his cello and the high

clear notes of Ignaz’s violin sounded through the house. Little

Franzl sat on the floor close by, bending and swaying to the

music.

“Our small son enjoys the evening concerts,” said Father

Schubert, putting down his bow.

“Yes, Theodor — I never saw such a child!” answered

Mother Schubert from her high-backed chair where she sat

busily mending. “He sings from morning until night and

seems to care for nothing else.”

It was not long before Franz Peter picked out tunes for

himself on the old worn-out hackbrett, or piano. He made up

little exercises and played them over and over, his dark curly

head bent closely over the keys.

Franz Peter could not see very well even though he wore

thick steel-rimmed glasses every day. Many times he would

stumble and fall when he played games with his merry friends.

He wished that he did not have to wear the spectacles and

could see as clearly as other boys.

13

Someone was always calling:

“Your glasses, Franz — you have forgotten them!”

Near the Schubert home was a large factory where pianos

were made and Franz Peter went there with his cousin as often

as his mother would allow him.

The two boys eagerly watched the different parts of the

instruments as they were fitted together and then hurried to

the warehouse where the shiny new pianos stood waiting to

be sold.

14

They rushed from one instrument to another and climbed

on the high stools to play on the polished keys. Franz picked

out little tunes and taught them to his cousin, his short stubby

fingers running swiftly over the keys.

“Now you play on the high notes of another piano while

I stay here and play the piece on the low keys — then it will

sound like a duet!” cried Franz, his dark eyes shining behind

his steel-rimmed glasses.

The boys played on and on, shrieking with delight, and ran

from one piano to another to try out the tone of the different

instruments.

It was cold in the factory but they would not leave until it

became too dark to see the keys.

15

In the evening, after Schoolmaster Schubert came home

from his day’s work, he gave Franz lessons on the violin and

before long he was able to play easy duets with his father.

His brother Ignaz helped him with the piano and in a short

time Franz went far beyond his older brother.

“Now you can go on alone for you have learned all that I

have to teach you,” said Ignaz.

Father Schubert called his family earlier than usual on

Sunday mornings for he wanted everyone to be on time for

the services in the parish church of Lichtenthal.

16

Franz Peter sat next to his father and was quiet as long as

there was music. When it was over he became restless and the

hard bench was very uncomfortable.

“Be quiet, Franz! You must sit still and listen to the service.”

“But I would rather sing in the choir with the boys,”

whispered Franz.

“Perhaps later we shall speak to the director. But now you

must be patient until the service is over.”

17

There stood Michael Holzer, the fat, jolly choirmaster in

his long robes, directing the small orchestra and the singers.

When the organ sounded its last notes and the people were

leaving the church, Franz and his father went to find the choir

leader.

“Good day, Herr Holzer. I have brought my young Franz to

see you. He thinks he would like to sing in your choir.”

18

“Indeed!” said the director, looking down at the small,

dark-skinned boy. “He looks a little young, but we will see

what he can do.”

“You will find that he reads his notes well and that his time

is good,” said Father Schubert. “His brother Ignaz and I have

taught him music at home.”

Herr Holzer opened a large book to a difficult song. Franz

sang it so easily that before he had finished, the director

turned to the schoolmaster.

19

“But, my good friend — why have you not brought this

boy to me sooner? He has a fine voice indeed. Of course he

must have more training, so he shall come to me at once for

lessons.”

“Then will I sing in the choir with the other boys?” asked

Franz, eagerly.

“First you must learn more about singing, so tomorrow

you will come here and we will begin to work,” said the

choirmaster.

The next day Michael Holzer was surprised to find that

his pupil knew so much about music. And now Franz worked

very hard and in a few weeks he was happy to be singing with

the boys on Sunday mornings, high in the choir loft.

There were lessons on the organ and on the piano, too. But

most of all, Herr Holzer was delighted when his pupil was

able to make beautiful compositions from little melodies or

themes that he played for him.

One afternoon Schoolmaster Schubert came to see the

choirmaster.

20

“And how does the music go with my young Franz, Herr

Holzer?”

“Ah, my good Schubert, I have never had such a pupil!

Whenever I bring him anything new, I find that he already

knows it!”

“Then do you think that he would be able to enter the

court choir school in Vienna?”

“That is hard to say, my friend, for even though Franz

has a fine voice, there is little chance of his being taken into

the Convict. Only eighteen boys are admitted and there are

always many waiting to join.”

“But just today I have heard that there is a place for one boy.

Franz would learn other things besides music and that would

be well, indeed, for some day he must become a schoolmaster,

like all the Schuberts.”

“It is said to be the finest school in Vienna, with the

greatest masters in all the city,” answered Holzer.

“Many times I have tried to enter Franz there so that we

would have one less to provide for in our home. It would

mean much to have him live at the Convict where he would

be clothed and fed as well.”